News

Drunk 25-year-old swung weapon at man's head

A MAN used a sock filled with gravel as a weapon in an unprovoked attack on a stranger, Southampton Crown Court was told.

Louis Lake was so drunk he said he had found the weapon in the street although he was arrested wearing only one sock.

The court heard how the unemployed 25-year-old had swung the weapon at a man who was making his way home along Bedford Place from a night out in Southampton Prosecutor Barnaby Shaw explained how the weapon had hit victim on the back of his head causing a golf ball sized lump.

The attack was witnessed by a police officer who arrested Lake who was later charged with common assault and having an offensive weapon which he admitted.

Mitigating Sue Ridge said he was deeply ashamed of the incident and had no recollection of events because he was so drunk, which was the cause of his offending for which he was seeking help.

Lake, of Arthur Road, Southampton, was given a three month suspended sentence suspended for a year, a supervision order and 180 hours' unpaid work.

Comments (5)

What a lame sentence for gods sake, he should have been locked up. Random attacks on people like this I find really sick (especially as I had it done to myself in a street robbery once). The victim here could have easily suffered brain damage from being struck around the head.

What a lame sentence for gods sake, he should have been locked up. Random attacks on people like this I find really sick (especially as I had it done to myself in a street robbery once). The victim here could have easily suffered brain damage from being struck around the head.ToastyTea

Horrific though this incident was, and there are no excuses, locking someone up costs us £41,000 per annum.

We are already in a dire financial position and I, for one, would much rather see this type of offender putting something back into our community rather than costing us money.

Prisons are, after all, universities of crime - I would hate to think of ‘training’ this individual would have picked up from a stretch in clink.

Horrific though this incident was, and there are no excuses, locking someone up costs us £41,000 per annum.
We are already in a dire financial position and I, for one, would much rather see this type of offender putting something back into our community rather than costing us money.
Prisons are, after all, universities of crime - I would hate to think of ‘training’ this individual would have picked up from a stretch in clink.freefinker

freefinker wrote:
Horrific though this incident was, and there are no excuses, locking someone up costs us £41,000 per annum.

We are already in a dire financial position and I, for one, would much rather see this type of offender putting something back into our community rather than costing us money.

Prisons are, after all, universities of crime - I would hate to think of ‘training’ this individual would have picked up from a stretch in clink.

Every criminal that is locked up costs the taxpayer something and if cost is the criteria, why not abandon the whole notion of punishment because a few hours in the sunshine painting an old lady's fence is hardly a deterrent. Whatever prison does it keeps the individual away from society and if they are universities of crime perhaps there should be more use of solitary confinement and continual moves to prisons around the country so that inmates are always strangers to each other. The system won't work when the starting point is to consider the offenders every need instead of recognising that comfort, love and understanding isn't going to change their ways.

[quote][p][bold]freefinker[/bold] wrote:
Horrific though this incident was, and there are no excuses, locking someone up costs us £41,000 per annum.
We are already in a dire financial position and I, for one, would much rather see this type of offender putting something back into our community rather than costing us money.
Prisons are, after all, universities of crime - I would hate to think of ‘training’ this individual would have picked up from a stretch in clink.[/p][/quote]Every criminal that is locked up costs the taxpayer something and if cost is the criteria, why not abandon the whole notion of punishment because a few hours in the sunshine painting an old lady's fence is hardly a deterrent. Whatever prison does it keeps the individual away from society and if they are universities of crime perhaps there should be more use of solitary confinement and continual moves to prisons around the country so that inmates are always strangers to each other. The system won't work when the starting point is to consider the offenders every need instead of recognising that comfort, love and understanding isn't going to change their ways.Torchie1

****. I wondered where I dropped my gravel filled sock the other day. I am sure this kind chap was just returning it to the nearest police station when a gust of wind caused it to accidentally lift up and whack someone round the back of the head. All totally innocent. (See - I can be a defence solicitor - it's easy).

****. I wondered where I dropped my gravel filled sock the other day. I am sure this kind chap was just returning it to the nearest police station when a gust of wind caused it to accidentally lift up and whack someone round the back of the head. All totally innocent. (See - I can be a defence solicitor - it's easy).MisterGrimsdale

Another drink fueled assault on an innocent person. Why don't they just ban these people from drinking in any Southampton pub/club for 5 years. That way they have no reason to be in the city centre and even if they are, they will hopefully be sober and less likely to cause trouble.

Another drink fueled assault on an innocent person. Why don't they just ban these people from drinking in any Southampton pub/club for 5 years. That way they have no reason to be in the city centre and even if they are, they will hopefully be sober and less likely to cause trouble.SholingRes